Jessica M. Silva-Fisher, PhD

2024 Dean’s Impact Award Recipient

Jessica M. Silva-Fisher, PhD, has made outstanding contributions to the mentorship of diverse trainees at WashU Medicine, including her role as director of the Mentorship to Enhance Diversity in Academia (MEDA) program, housed within the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Allyship, and Social Justice at Department of Medicine (IDEAS @ DOM) initiative for the past three years. Department colleagues note her commitment and unwavering dedication to developing and leading this unique program to fill a gap for diverse trainees who may struggle to find support for career development, networking and mentorship, not only within the Department of Medicine (DOM), but in collaboration with other departments and programs. Beginning this work in 2016 as co-chair of the DOM trainee, inclusion and cultural awareness task force, she identified concerns and barriers faced by trainees who self-identified as underrepresented in medicine (URiM). When MEDA launched in 2021, Silva-Fisher assumed the role of inaugural director. Under her leadership, the program has been a success in advancing its mission to provide personalized career development, resources for community, support and advocacy, and academic and career mentorship by facilitating connections with mentors through an online database (MEDA Mentors).